Introduction to Project Management

What is a project?

•          “A temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product, service or result”                                                                 PMI

•          “..a group of related activities carried out to achieve a specific objective”                  BCS

•          “an endeavour to accomplish a specific objective through a unique set of interrelated tasks and the effective utilisation of resources”                    Clements & Gido

Project attributes:

—  Separate undertaking (non routine)

—  Discrete purpose and objectives

—  Involve preparation and planning

—  Limited time-span

—  Contains a series of interdependent tasks

—  Requires range of resources

—  Create end results or deliverables

—  Independent control?

—  Independent management?

Project Characteristics:

What is project management?

“the application of knowledge, skills and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements”     

                                                   PMI (2008)

Portfolio/Programme/Project Management

10 areas (skills) of project management:

Project Constraints:

 Need for good project mgt

“There is only one consistent feature of modern business and that is change”

 Maylor, 2005

 Project success….

—  Deliver project on time, within budget and to required quality/specification

—  Satisfies customer requirements

—  Project contributes to achieving corporate goal; competitive advantage, increase profits, increase sales, exceptional value……

Attributed to:

Causes for project failure:

—  Poor (adhoc) project management

—  Poor goal definition/specification

—  Roles and responsibilities not clearly defined

—  Unrealistic timescales /user expectations

—  Poor alignment of goals to projects

—  Failure to assess risks and make contingency plans

—  Poor co-ordination of resources and activities

—  Poor reporting of results

—  Inappropriate staff

—  Inadequate monitoring and control

—  Failure to manage change